Arming device



Oct. 17, 1961 E. w. PLACE ETAL 3,004,491

ARMING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 DIRECTION OFACCELERATION 76 FIG. I 64 40 IO 70 i 58 7O B 74 32 Q A26 '58 x FIG. 2.FIG. 2A.

4 FIG. 3. 1

32 INVENTORS.

EUGENE w. PLACE JACK H. DAVIDSON JAMES D. DeSANTO BY ATTORNEY'S.

Oct. 17, 1961 E. w. PLACE ETAL 3,

ARMING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 ELECTRICALACTUATOR l52- I50 FIG. 4. {141 lsl I42 32 98 26 148 a ||2 I mun l i. mmICHARGEII 2?? CHARGE W a I BOOSTER pfq BOOSTER "I CHARGE: v CHARGE J L9* JV //)v////////// lzs ELECTRICAL ACTUATOR /22 I47 FIG. 4A.

|42 1/ I -LI4O I48 26 I g 38 v MAIN CHARGE 24 x 0 BOOSTER 4 4 1 4 CHARGEv 0 v 4 P INVENTORS.

EUGENE W. PLACE JACK H. DAVIDSON JAMES D. DeSANTO BY ATTORNEYS:

Oct. 17, 1961 E. w. PLACE EI'AL 3,004,491

ARMING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7.

FlG. 8. 64

INVENTOR S.

I; II/

EUGENE W. PLACE JACK H. DAVIDSON 38 JAMES D. DeSANTO -l-M ATTORNE Y S.

, ARMING DEVICE Eugene W. Place, Salinas,"and Jack H. Davidson and JamesD. De Santo, China Lake, Caiif., assignors, by

. tures 50, 50 and into aperture 48, securing shafts 28 and ,f gi g fihgif i g li g fi fii iii Amenca as 38 together for joint rotation. spiralWound flat spring Filed July 26, 1960, Ser. No. 45,514 54, FIG. 8,disposed in a cavity 56 formed in housing .14 Claims. (Cl. 102-83) 32resiliently urges the shafts to rotate in the direction of, a t I arrowA, oneof its ends being fixed to shaft 28 and the; s inv n on r ateaeceleration responsive arm-K other fixed to housing 32;. The shaftsare drivingly con 3 devices for s in fusing Systems for missile eefriednected' to a conventional oscillating pallet type escapeeXPIOSiVeS, andmore Particularly acceleration p ment mechanism 58, selected to causethe shafts to ro--' sive arming devices of the SP which remain unarmedtate at a predetermined constant rate of rotation, through hhiil iePse fa definite interval of time after initial acaspur gear 60 fixed'to shaft28, which gear enmeshes a celeration. first pinion 62 .of the escapementmechanism. *The afore The Object Of the present invention is P Q allsaid arrangement of spring 54and escapement mechanism impiovedadeviee 0the yp referred which may he 58 constitute a clockmotor which biases theshafts to toseieeiiveiy Preseiio m r y one Of tate at a constant rate ofrotation in the directionof areral intervals of time. i r a row A,FIG. 1. I Other objects and m ny f the attendant advantages f A cavity64, FIG. 1, having opposite walls 66, as i s invention will be readilyappreciated as the same formed in housing 32. An interlock element 70,FIG. 9, comes better understood by reference to the following i fi d t hf 23, wh h fts 28 and 33 r t te, indetm'led description'when consideredin connection with t -1 l e 70 d ribe n arc of rotation repretheaccompanying drawings wherein! sented by arrow 72, which arc of rotationin part extends FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device of the present2 in cavity 64, A rod 74, FIG. 1, suitably fixed at its invention; endsto the housing, extends between walls 66 and 68, and. 1A is a fragmentof a Side elevation like a weight 76 is slideably mounted on rod 74 forrectilinear iihistmting a Particular adaptation of the device of motion,the rod slideably extending through a bore 78: FIG. 1; extending throughthe weight. The Weight is further sup FIG. 2 is an end view of t e devce of FIG- 1; ported for such movement by a pin 80, FIG. 7, carried FIG.2A is an e ie O t device of thereby, which rides in a groove 82 formedin the hous- 3 is a P1311 View Of the device of I:IG- ing. A helicalcompression spring 84, FIG. 1, is mounted 'FIG. 4 is a section takenalong line 4-4, FIG. 3, showabout rod 74 between weight 76 and wall 68,resiliently ing t device in t n d position and diasrammatiurging weight76 toward wall 66 to the initial limit stop callyshowing certainelements of an exemplary fuse sys: position shown, against wall 66. Astep 86, FIG. 9, term in which the device may be employed; formed onweight 76 has a path of movement which in FIG. 4A is a section like FIG.4 Showing the devi in part coincides with the arc ofrotation ofinterlock eleits armed position; rnent 70. The mechanism is so arrangedthat when .FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 55, FIG. 4; weight 76 isin its initial position, step 86 initially engages 'FIG. 6is a detailindicated by arrow 6, FIG. 4; interlock element 70 locking shafts 2s andas against FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken along line 7-7, the urgeof spring 54, establishing an initial angular posi- FZG. 3; tion of theshafts. Until the shafts have rotated from FIG. 8 is a section takenalong line 8-8, FIG. 7; their initial position through an angle inexcess of angle FIG. 9 is a section taken along line 9-9, FIG. 7; and 0,step 86 may engage interlock element 70. FIG. 10 is an exploded view ofa detail indicated by A rotor 88, FIG. 4, having formed thereon a firstcol-. arrow 10, FIG. 2. lar 90, a stud 92, a second collar 94, and a cam96 is l Referring in detail to the drawing, the invention comrotatablymounted to housing 32, stud 92 being disposed prises an arming andfiring unit 20, indicated as a whole in a cavity 98, FIG. 3, formed inthe housing and second in FIG. 1, which unit may be employed'in variousfuse collar 94 being journaled in a bore 100 also formed in systems formissile carried explosive charges, as, for exthe housing. A disk 102fixed to shaft 38 in a predeterample, the arrangement shown in FIG. 4which includes mined angular position and having a transverse slot 104an electrical actuator 22 for providing an electrical comformed thereinis generally disposed in cavity 98 for comand signal suitable forigniting an electrical primer, a operation with stud 92. A torsionspring 106 mounted booster charge 24, and a main charge 26, the othercomabout rotor 88, resiliently urges rotor 88 to rotate in the ponentsof the fuse system being omitted since they are direction of arrow B,FIG. 2, one end of the spring ennot important to the present invention.gaging a slot 108, FIG. 6, formed in surface 110 of the Within unit 20,a hollow shaft 28, FIG. 7, having a housing, and the other end extendinginto an aperture central bore 30 extending between its ends is rotatably111 formed in collar 90 of the rotor, the spring being remounted to ahousing 32 by ball bearings 34, 36. A tained in place by meansof anannular plug 112 force shaft 38 is journaled inbore -30 with its endsprojecting fitted into a passage 113. .The mechanism is so arrangedfrom-the respective ends of shaft 28. A disk shaped that slotted disk102 initially engages stud 92 locking it flange 40 is formeden ene endofihaft' ze and i ffifii iii ifiih position shewn in F-irre againstthern gepf spring" ing disk shaped flange 42 is fixed to the adjacentend of 196, establishing such position as an initial unarmed shaft 28.As best shown in FIG. 10, flange 40 has a position of the rotor. Whenthe slotted disk is rotated single threaded aperture 48 formed thereinand flange 42 has a series of apertures 50, 50, each registrable withaperture 48 in a difierent predetermined angular position of shaft 38relative to shaft 28. A hub 44 is formed on flange 42 having a slot 46formed therein adapted to be engageable with a suitable hand tool, suchas a screw driver, to permit a desired manual adjustment of the2,004,491 ete e t; 12 1.

angular position of shaft 38 to any one of the aforesaid angularpositions, the significance of such adjustment to become hereinafterapparent. After such adjustment, a screw 52 is extended through one ofthe series of apera to its position shown in FIG. 4A, by rotationo-fshafts 28 and 38, stud 92 may pass through slot 104 releasing rotor 88to rotate to its final armed limit stop position shown in FIG. 4Aagainst a surface 114 formed in the housing. The housing and rotor areso arranged to receive an interruptable explosive train including anelectrical primer 116 disposed in chamber 118, an elongated 3. flashdetonator 120 fixedly mounted in an aperture 122 extending Idiametrically through collar 94' of the rotor, and suitable explosivepellets 124, 124 disposed in a passage 126 extending through thehousing. An aperture 128 communicates between chamber 118 and bore 160,and an aperture 130 communicates between passage 126 and the bore,apertures 128 and 130 being diametrically disposed through the bore.When the rotor is in the unarmed position flash detonator 126 is out ofalignment with apertures 128 and 130 so that even if primer 116 isaccidently ignited the rotor will act as a barrier restricting itsoutput to chamber 118, and when in the armed position flash detonator120 is in alignment with the aperture so that elements of the explosivetrain are in alignment whereby ignition of primer 116 will firedetonator 120, as shown by arrow 131, in turn detonating explosivepellets 124, 124, as shown by arrow 131a. Upon detonation, explosivepellets 124, 124 project an explosive charge outward from both ends ofpassage 126 in the directions of arrow 132, 134 which in turn detonatesbooster charge 24 and then main charge 26. It is to be noted that thefuse system may be arranged with the booster and final charge disposedeither in their full line positions 24, 26, or in the phantom linepositions 24a, 26a, adjacent the other end of passage 126, the unusedend being left open, as shown, which does not affect detonation of thecharge at the other end.

A conventional miniature single pole double throw switch assembly 136 ofthe type actuable by an actuating button 138 movable between a retractedposition best shown in FIG. and an extended position shown in FIG. 4Aand spring urged toward the latter position, is mounted to housing 32with the actuating button engaged against cam 96. In the unarmedposition of FIG. 4, cam 96 locks actuating button 138 hits retractedposition actuating a pole 140, shown schematically, into contact with astationary contact member 142 thereby short circuiting primer leads 144and 146 through lead 147. In the armed position, FIG. 4A, cam surface 96permits actuating button 138 to move to its extended position actuatingpole member 140 into contact with a stationary contact member 148,electrically connecting primer lead 146 to an output terminal 150 ofelectric actuator 22 through lead 151, and thereby electrically armingthe device, primer lead 144 being electrically connected to the otheroutput terminal 152 through lead 153.

In operation of unit 20, initial acceleration in the direction of arrow154, FIG. 1, moves Weight 76 away from its initial position releasinginterlock element 70 and thereby permitting shafts 28 and 38 to startrotating in response to the clockmotor mechanism. If the acceleration isof sufiicient level or levels to move weight 76 clear of the path ofrotation of interlock element 70 over a s'ufiicient length of time topermit the shaft to rotate from its initial position through an angle inexcess of angle 6, the shafts will continue in normal rotation untilthey reach an angular position whereat stud 92 on rotor 88 passesthrough slot 104 of slotted disk 102, thereby arming the unit. Since theshafts rotate at a constant rate of rotation determined by theclockmotor mechanism, the time interval between initial acceleration andarming is determined by the angular distance between the initialposition of the shafts and their position whereat slotted disk 102releases the rotor, which in turn is determined by the hereinbeforedescribed preliminary positioning of shaft 38 relative to shaft 28, eachof the aforesaid predetermined positions corresponding to apredetermined interval of arming time. Accordingly, the unit may beselectively preset to provide any one of several intervals oftimebetween initial acceleration and arming. If weight 76 is not moved clearof the path of interlock element 70, the shaft will rotate only untilinterlock element 70 engages the weight thereby preventing furtherrotation, and upon termination of the acceleration, the weight willreturn to'itsinitial position in response to the urge of 75 spring 84moving interlock element and the shafts back to their initial position"against the retarding effect of escapement mechanism 58.

In certain instances, as for example, in multiple propulsion stagemissiles, where the missile is subjected to acceleration effectssubsequent to initial acceleration, it may be desirable to adapt unit 20to remain unarmed unless the unit is subjected to accelerationsubsequent to the initial acceleration. This maybe effected by provisionof additional interlocking elements between the rotating shafts andweight 76. For example, an interlock element 156, FIG. 1A, may be fixedto flange 42 and an abutment 158 engageable with element 156 may beaffixed to weight 76, the mechanisms being so ai'ranged that interlockelement 156 is engageable with abutment 153 unless the unit issubje'cted to acceleration at a predetermined time subsequent to theinitial acceleration.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above" teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims 'the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An arming device for use in a missile comprising, in combination,first and second shafts adapted for rotation about a common axis, saidshafts being positionable in angular position about said axis relativeto each other, means for effecting desired adjustment of the angularrelationship between said first and second shafts whereby said shaftsmay be selectively secured together for joint' rotation in a pluralityof predetermined relative angular positions, a clo-ckmotor mechanismoperatively connected to one of said shafts, said clockmotor mechanismbeing adapted to bias said shafts to rotate in one direction of rotationat a predetermined rate of rotation, acceleration responsive meanscooperating with said first shaft adapted to lock said shafts in aninitial position whereat saidfirst shaft is in a predetermined angularposition about'said' common axis against said bias of the clockmotormechanism and adapted to release said' shafts in response to ac-'celeration of said housing, arming means actuable in'respouse torotation of said shafts from said initial position to a position whereatsaid second shaft is in a predetermined position about said common axis.i

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of flange, saidsecond flange having a series of equiangularly" spaced apertures formedtherein representing equal increments of time, each of said series ofapertures being registrable with said first aperture, and meansengageable in said first aperture and one of said series ofapertures forsecuring said flanges together against relative rotation.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said accelerationresponsive means includes movable means responsive to missileacceleration and engageable with an element carried by said first shaftto interrupt rotation of said shafts unless said initial acceleration ofthe housing is sustained at a predetermined level of magnitude for apredetermined period of time.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arming meansincludes an interruptable explosive train, said explosive trainincluding an actuating element adapted to initiate said explosive train,said explosive train including a final explosive element adapted toprovide a predetermined explosive output, said explosive train includingan interrupter element adapted for movement from an initial unarmedposition wherein said interrupter element renders said actuating elementineffective to initiate said final element to an armed position whereinsaid actuator element is effective to initiate said final element,movable means to effect movement of said interrupter element to saidarmed position, and means operatively connecting said second shaft andsaid movable means torestrain said movable means until said second shaftreaches said predetermined position.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said explosive train isoperatively responsive to a signal applied thereto through an electricalfiring circuit, said interrupter element comprising a rotatable shaftand an associated arming switch connected in said circuit, said armedposition being an angular position of said shaft, said shaft and switchbeing effective to arm the firing circuit, only if the shaft is in saidangular position.

7. An arming device to be carried by an accelerated missile comprisingfirst and second co-axial shafts, means for securing said first andsecond shaft together for joint rotation including adjustable means formanually presetting relative angular positions of said shafts, aclockwork mechanism adapted to bias said shafts to rotate in onedirection of rotation and at a predetermined rate, accelerationresponsive means cooperating with said first shaft adapted to initiallylock said shafts against rotation and to release same in response toacceleration of said missile, a third shaft spring biased in onedirection of rotation toward an armed position, means carried by saidsecond shaft engageable with an element carried by said third shaftadapted to permit said third shaft to rotate after said second shaft hasrotated to a predetermined position, and arming means carried by saidthird shaft adapted to move to an armed position when said third shaftis rotated to its armed position.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein one of said coaxialshafts has an axial bore extending therethrough with the other of saidshafts journaled therein.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said adjustable means forpresetting the angular positions comprises first and second flangescarried by said first and second shafts, and means to selectively fastensaid flanges in a plurality of predetermined relative angular positions.

10. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said; accelerationresponsive means comprises a weight guidingly supported for rectilinearmovement in directions parallel to the direction of missile travel andspring urged toward a locking position wherein it engages an elementcarried by said first shaft and adapted to move away from said lockingposition in response to acceleration of said missile.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said Weight is movedaway from said locking position to at least a second position inresponse to a predetermined magnitude of acceleration, said weight beingengageable with said element carried by said first shaft over a predetermined portion of the path of rotation thereof.

12. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means carried bysaid second shaft is a disk-like element having a face engageable withsaid element and having formed therein a transverse slot through whichsaid element carried by the third shaft may move when said second shaftis in said predetermined position.

13. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said arming meanscomprises a pyrotechnic train including a pyrotechnic element carried bysaid third shaft and positionable to complete said train only when thethird shaft is in its armed position.

14. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said arming meanscomprises an electric arming switch operatively associated with saidthird shaft and actuable to its armed position in response to finalmovement of said third shaft to its armed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ParkerJune 20, 1950

